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Veteran Oakley keen to play on

Exeter City midfielder Matt Oakley says he is not considering hanging up his boots at the end of the current campaign.

Last Updated: 26/03/13 12:28pm

Matt Oakley: Not ready to retire

Exeter City midfielder Matt Oakley says he is not considering hanging up his boots at the end of the current campaign.

The 35-year-old former Southampton man has been a vital cog in the Grecians' midfield this season, making 37 appearances for Paul Tisdale's promotion-chasing team before suffering a shoulder injury that looks to have ended his season.

After departing Leicester last summer Oakley was considering calling it a day but his love for the game has been reignited by his spell in Devon.

"This season has definitely given me that desire to play again," Oakley told the Western Morning News. "Paul has already spoken to me about playing for Exeter next year, and I was pleased that he was looking beyond this year for me.

"We will discuss that in the summer, but that was mentioned before anything happened! We will leave it to the summer because he has a lot on his mind at the moment, but, yes, it is definitely something I want to do next year."

Oakley is unlikely to feature again in the run-in after an innocuous fall against Gillingham but he is not ruling out making another a Wembley comeback should City reach the League Two play-off final.

"Unless I get back in six weeks, then it probably will be season over, but I am going to try and see how I get on," he said. "Paul and I have spoken about the play-offs and I am going to continue training, which is good.

"I have to keep that in my mind just in case. If we don't get automatic promotion and we do go into the play-offs, then I could be fit for the final. But I am not expecting to play. I could be available for at least a bench position, or something like that."